East Central Family Health Center, a federally qualified health center in Wetumka, Okla., has agreed to pay $825,000 to settle civil claims stemming from allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false Medicaid claims, according to the Department of Justice.
The government alleged that East Central submitted or caused to be submitted false claims to the Oklahoma Medicaid program for behavioral health services during the period from Jan. 1, 2010, through April 30, 2012. The government specifically alleged that East Central submitted false claims for patients of non-FQHC providers. Medicaid paid a higher amount for these services under the FQHC payment rate when these services should have been submitted as non-FQHC claims, according to the DOJ.
Along with paying the $825,000, East Central has also entered into a corporate integrity agreement with HHS' Office of Inspector General.
Although East Central has agreed to this settlement, there has been no determination of liability in this case.
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